Update: Care New England: Memorial Hospital Closing

PAWTUCKET, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) will hold a meeting on Monday, November 27th to gather public comment on Care New England’s application to close the emergency department at Memorial Hospital.

In addition, the health department will also gather public comment on Care New England’s application to transfer the primary care services currently provided under Memorial Hospital’s license to Kent Hospital’s license. RIDOH received the complete application regarding the transfer of primary care services from Care New England on Nov. 24.

The meeting will be held at Lyman B. Goff Middle School, 974 Newport Ave., from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

According to the state health department, "the purpose of the meeting will be to allow the public to provide input on the potential closure’s effects on the community. RIDOH officials at the meeting will not be able to answer questions about the application. A copy of the application to close the emergency department can be found online.

"In addition to speaking at this meeting, members of the public can submit written comment. Written comment can be submitted in person on November 27th or it can be submitted via email or postal mail between today and December 11th to Paula Pullano, Rhode Island Department of Health; 3 Capitol Hill, Room 410; Providence, RI 02908 | Paula.Pullano@health.ri.gov."

Meanwhile, Care New England last week announced initial plans for the continuity of community-based care in the Pawtucket region. The company is working with the Rhode Island Department of Health and political leaders about its decision to close Memorial Hospital.

Here is the press release from Care New England and Gov. Raimondo's office.

CNE has also started to engage and work collaboratively with Governor Raimondo’s office and Pawtucket and Central Falls mayors, Donald Grebien and James Diossa.

Family and Internal Medicine:

While CNE continues to address key next steps, these plans call for maintaining family care and internal medicine offices in Pawtucket. The Family Care and Internal Medicine Centers, delivering primary care to thousands of community residents, will continue to see patients in a similar fashion as they currently do. The ability for residents to have access to high-quality family care and internal medicine practices is crucial to meeting the health care needs of the community.

Medical Residencies:

Currently, the Family Care and Internal Medicine Centers serve as training sites for residencies affiliated with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. CNE will seek to maintain these residencies and this affiliation under Kent Hospital. This transfer will require approval by both the American College of Graduate Medical Education and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, as well as by The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. CNE is hopeful that it will be able to obtain these approvals. Physician practice-based training for these residencies would continue to be performed at office sites in Pawtucket and hospital-based training would be done at Kent Hospital and other hospitals in the region.

“Care New England is dedicated to meeting the needs of the population that have historically been served by Memorial Hospital in a way that honors and continues the legacy of this institution, while acknowledging the industry-changing dynamics and future of health care,” said James E. Fanale, MD, CNE executive vice president, chief operating officer and chief clinical officer.

“As soon as Care New England announced it would be closing Pawtucket Memorial, I said clearly that no one should lose their job and Care New England could not just walk away from the property,” said Governor Raimondo. “I am pleased that Care New England will continue to provide primary care services on the Memorial campus to ensure that Pawtucket residents still have access to the care and services they need. I look forward to working with their leadership team to identify a long-term use for the hospital building.”

Specific to these changes, it is important to note that they include the positive shift from volume-based to value-based reimbursement. This simply means ensuring that patients receive the right care at the right time in the right place while reimbursing providers for the quality of care rather than the quantity.

“My first priority is to ensure that the people of our community, particularly our underserved community, have access to health services here in Pawtucket and the Blackstone Valley,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien. “We all recognize the significant challenges in the hospital services. I will continue to advocate that CNE provide for the essential needs in our community and be inclusive and transparent throughout the process.”

The steps announced today are a key component in this shift towards the future of health care. Memorial’s primary care providers are frequently the first patient contact and their preventive care is related to better outcomes for patients, including fewer emergency department visits and hospital admissions, ultimately contributing to CNE’s and the communities’ long-term health care goals.

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